Best Suburbs of Dallas 2026
North Texas's Most Desirable Suburban Communities
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex offers some of the finest suburbs in America, each with distinct character, outstanding schools, and amenities that rival major cities. From the luxury of Southlake to the energy of Frisco and the charm of McKinney, DFW suburbs attract families and professionals seeking exceptional quality of life with convenient access to a world-class metro.
What to Look For
Key factors our experts evaluate when ranking Dallas's best options
Tollway Access
DFW's tollway network (DNT, Sam Rayburn, PGBT) is essential for commuting. Suburbs along these corridors offer the fastest access to major employers.
ISD Rankings
Frisco, Carroll (Southlake), Prosper, and Allen ISDs consistently rank among the best in Texas. School choice drives home values across DFW.
Corporate Proximity
Major employers like Toyota, JPMorgan Chase, PGA of America, and the Dallas Cowboys have relocated to suburbs, bringing jobs closer to residents.
Community Maturity
Established suburbs like Plano and Colleyville offer mature trees and character, while Prosper and Celina offer new construction and emerging amenities.
Our Top Picks for 2026
Ranked by our Dallas real estate experts based on comprehensive analysis
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Frisco
Median $530KFrisco has evolved from a small town to one of America's most dynamic suburbs, anchored by The Star (Dallas Cowboys world headquarters), PGA of America headquarters, and Universal Studios Texas (under development). Frisco ISD is one of the top-rated districts in Texas, and the city offers world-class sports, dining, and entertainment. New master-planned communities continue to expand northward.
Key Features: Frisco ISD, The Star & PGA HQ, 30 min to Dallas, rapid growth
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McKinney
Median $420KConsistently ranked among the best places to live in America, McKinney combines a charming historic downtown with modern master-planned communities. McKinney ISD earns top ratings, the historic square features local restaurants and boutiques, and outdoor amenities include Erwin Park and Bonnie Wenk Park. McKinney offers more affordable entry points than neighboring Frisco.
Key Features: McKinney ISD, historic downtown, parks, 35 min to Dallas
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Southlake
Median $950KSouthlake is DFW's most prestigious suburb, home to Carroll ISD (one of the highest-rated districts in Texas) and Southlake Town Square, an award-winning mixed-use development with upscale dining and retail. The community takes immense pride in Southlake Carroll athletics, and the tree-lined neighborhoods feature custom homes on generous lots with proximity to DFW Airport.
Key Features: Carroll ISD, Southlake Town Square, 25 min to Dallas, prestige
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Prosper
Median $600KProsper has emerged as one of DFW's most sought-after suburbs, offering luxury master-planned communities like Windsong Ranch, Star Trail, and Light Farms. Prosper ISD is building state-of-the-art schools to serve the rapidly growing community, and amenities include resort pools, miles of trails, and community centers. Located between Frisco and Celina along the DNT extension.
Key Features: Prosper ISD, luxury master-planned, resort amenities, growing
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Allen
Median $420KAllen offers excellent value in the Collin County corridor with top-rated Allen ISD schools, the massive Allen Premium Outlets, and Watters Creek mixed-use center. The city is known for the $60 million Allen Eagle Stadium and strong youth athletics programs. Established neighborhoods provide mature trees and reasonable prices, while new sections continue to develop.
Key Features: Allen ISD, Premium Outlets, Eagle Stadium, 30 min to Dallas
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Plano
Median $480KOne of DFW's most established suburbs, Plano is home to major corporate headquarters including Toyota, JPMorgan Chase, FedEx Office, and numerous tech companies in the Legacy West corridor. Plano ISD schools are excellent, the dining and entertainment scene along Legacy Drive rivals any suburb in America, and the community offers a perfect balance of urban amenities and suburban living.
Key Features: Plano ISD, Legacy West corridor, corporate HQs, 25 min to Dallas
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Flower Mound
Median $520KFlower Mound offers a unique lakeside suburban experience along the shores of Grapevine Lake, with excellent Lewisville ISD schools, a strong sense of community, and abundant outdoor recreation. The town maintains strict development standards that preserve green space and tree cover. Convenient access to DFW Airport and Dallas via I-35E and the Sam Rayburn Tollway.
Key Features: Lewisville ISD, Grapevine Lake, green space, 30 min to Dallas
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Colleyville
Median $750KColleyville offers a premium suburban experience with large lots, mature trees, and the highly rated Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. The city maintains a semi-rural character with minimum lot sizes and wooded neighborhoods, while Colleyville Boulevard provides upscale dining and services. Proximity to DFW Airport and the mid-cities corridor makes it ideal for traveling professionals.
Key Features: GCISD, large lots, mature trees, 20 min to DFW Airport
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Celina
Median $450KCelina is the hottest emerging suburb in DFW, growing from a small farming community into a master-planned powerhouse with developments like Light Farms and Cambridge Crossing. Celina ISD and Prosper ISD serve the community, and new commercial centers are rapidly filling in. Early buyers benefit from lower prices with significant appreciation potential as development continues.
Key Features: Celina/Prosper ISD, emerging growth, new construction, value
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Wylie
Median $380KWylie offers perhaps the best overall value in the Collin County corridor, with solid Wylie ISD schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, and median prices well below neighboring communities. Lake Lavon provides water recreation, downtown Wylie is developing a charming small-town identity, and new construction offers modern homes at accessible prices for first-time and move-up buyers.
Key Features: Wylie ISD, Lake Lavon, best value, 35 min to Dallas
How We Ranked These
Our methodology for evaluating and ranking these options
Our Dallas suburb rankings evaluate school district quality, median home price, commute time to downtown Dallas and major employment centers, community amenities, growth trajectory, safety statistics, and resident satisfaction. Data sourced from NTREIS MLS, TEA school ratings, and community surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered by our Dallas real estate experts
Wylie ($380K median) and McKinney ($420K) offer the best value among established Dallas suburbs with quality school districts. Allen ($420K) also provides excellent value in the Collin County corridor. For the lowest entry points, emerging suburbs like Princeton and Forney offer homes from the $280-350K range.
Frisco is widely considered the best Dallas suburb for families, thanks to Frisco ISD's outstanding schools, abundant youth sports and activities, and family-oriented master-planned communities. Prosper, Allen, and McKinney are also top choices for families seeking excellent schools and community amenities.
Carroll ISD (Southlake) consistently earns the top rating in DFW. Frisco ISD, Prosper ISD, and Allen ISD are also among the highest-rated districts in Texas. Highland Park ISD is the most prestigious but comes with Park Cities pricing ($1.5M+). For the best schools at accessible prices, Allen and McKinney offer strong districts at lower price points.
Plano (25 minutes via US 75/DNT) and Richardson (20 minutes) offer the shortest commutes to downtown Dallas. Colleyville and Southlake provide 25-30 minute access to both Dallas and Fort Worth. Among the newer, growing suburbs, Frisco is about 30 minutes via the Dallas North Tollway.
Related Resources
Explore more Dallas real estate guides and tools
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Key Insight: Dallas-Fort Worth represents Texas's largest real estate market with over 7 million residents. Median home prices hover around $400,000, offering strong value compared to coastal cities. Top neighborhoods include Highland Park, University Park, Southlake, and rapidly growing suburbs like Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper.
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